1536

1536 description

Roll back time almost five centuries to 1536, when misogyny was on the rise, violence was the norm and it wasn't just difficult being female, it was downright dangerous. Up in London, King Henry 8th was at war with his wife Anne Boleyn, Tudor England was in disarray, and the royal family's toxic behaviour was starting to affect ordinary people, particularly women. Welcome to Alva Pickett's modern re-telling of Henry and his six wives, told by three young girls from an Essex village. Will female solidarity survive in a society where misogyny and violence are the norm?

This is a real treat for 2026. The Almeida Theatre's critically acclaimed, award-winning production of Ava Pickett's drama has unsettling parallels to our times, a play you'll still be thinking about long afterwards. It's directed by Lyndsey Turner (Chimerica) and was a winner of the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Ava Pickett won Best Writer for the play at the 2025 The Stage Debut Awards. Expect strong language, violence, and explicit content throughout, and prepare for an experience that'll see you laughing out loud one moment, silenced by horror the next.

Playing at Ambassadors Theatre (venue info)